The official title of the hotel is "Hotel Museo Posada Santa Fe"; the word museum is included because of the significance of the collection of oil paintings by Manuel Leal displayed in the hotel.

Manuel Leal was an artist and historian born in Guanajuato and his works are a documentary of the history and folklore of the town.

The hotel itself, founded in 1862, is featured in one of the paintings The Flower Feast of Passion Friday, displayed above the main staircase. Another painting in the lobby shows the inauguration of the Teatro Juarez (situated on the opposite side of Jardin de la Union).

Visit the restaurant to see two of the largest works; nearest the plaza is a depiction of the Image of Our Lady of Guanajuato taken on a procession through the town. At the far end of the room the story of the discovery of a new mining source is illustrated.

Many of Leal's contemporaries (and the artist himself) are shown in the scenes as onlookers or minor characters - look at the Inauguration of Teatro Juarez to see Leal as the gray-haired spectator turning to his left on the back row.